FSYCHE. 



BIOLOGICAL NOTES OX SOME NORTH AMERICAN ICHNEU- 



MONIDAE. 



5V CLARENCE MOORES WEED, COLL'MBUS, OHIO. 



The following mcinoranda concern- 

 ing the life-histon' of some common 

 species of ichneumotildae are based on 

 a study of the collections and note 

 boxes of the Illinois State laboratory of 

 natural history, made during the winter 

 of 1887-S, when the writer was con- 

 nected with that institution. Though 

 not of especial importance, it is be- 

 lieved that the observations here re- 

 corded will prove a useful contribution 

 to our knowledge of the earlier stages 

 of these interesting insects. All refer- 

 ences to localities are to be understood 

 as being in Illinois. 



PlMPLA NOTAXDA CreSSOU. 



Two specimens of this handsome 

 species were bred at Normal, 13 and 39 

 August 1884, from larvae of Gelechia 

 gallaesoUdaghiis Riley. Others were 

 swept from grass in McLean Count\', 

 32 June 18S3 ; and from wheat in 

 Clark County, 23 May 1S84. 



PiMPLA AXNULIPES BruUc. 



During May 1887, a Crambtis larva, 

 was found abuntlantlv in a pasture field 

 on the University farm, and a large 

 number of specimens were placed under 

 a bell-glass in the laboi'atory. The 

 moths, which in all cases proved to be 

 Crambns exsiccadis^ began to emerge 

 24 May, and continued emerging until 

 9 June. At the latter date there were 

 found in the casfe a X-axsic number of 



specimens of Apa7iteles cranibi Weed, 

 a single example of Pimpla aniiuUfes 

 Brulle, and also a specimen of another 

 large ichneumonid as yet undetermined. 

 This was the only Pimpla bred from 

 the lot, which consisted of something 

 over a hundred Crambzis cocoons. 



Besides this bred specimen, a long 

 series of this species were collected in 

 the field. Localities and dates are as 

 follows: Champaign County, r6 May, 

 12 June, and 3 July 1S85 (sweepings) ; 

 7 Aug. 18S6, and 15 Oct. 1887; Mc- 

 Lean Co., 15 June, and 7 Nov. 1883; 

 Tazewell Co., 14 Aug. 1883 ; Hancock 

 Co., 26 June 1883 (sweepings in clover 

 field) : Marion Co., 20 Apr. and 20 

 May 1883 (sweepings in strawberry 

 field) ; and in Knox Co. 



Pimpla coxquisitor Say. 



We have one specimen of this hand- 

 some insect bred from Orgyia leuco- 

 stigfna at Normal, 14 Jul\- 1883 ; and 

 another was bred, 28 June 1884, from 

 the pupa of some lepidopterous leaf- 

 roller on grass — the precise species not 

 l^eing known, as but the one example 

 was collected. 



Of a large series collected in the field 

 mention may be made of those taken at 

 Normal from May to October during 

 1S82, 18S3 and 1884; and of a fine 

 female specimen taken on flowers at 

 Champaign, 20 Sept. x886. 



